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الجمعة، 9 مارس 2012

Lincoln Tribune

Afghanistan: Suspected militants attack, kill 9 policemen
Italian, British hostages killed during rescue attempt
Syria’s deputy oil minister defects from Assad
Indonesia’s Q1 economic growth to reach 6.5 percent
British Royal Navy submariner charged with ‘leaking secrets’

Afghanistan: Suspected militants attack, kill 9 policemen

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 06:22 PM PST

TIRINKOT, Afghanistan (BNO NEWS) -- At least nine police officers were killed on Thursday when militants attacked a police post in central Afghanistan, officials said. One officer remains missing.

Suspected Taliban militants attacked a local police security post on Wednesday in the Dashi area of Charchino district of the country's Uruzgan Province, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.

District development council chief Juma Gul told the news agency that nine policemen were killed during the attack, while a tenth law enforcer went missing. According to Hajji Naem Khan, a provincial council member from the district, one of the policemen was associated with the suspected militants involved in the attack.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi later claimed responsibility of the attack, although he stated that a total of ten policemen had been killed.

Italian, British hostages killed during rescue attempt

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 10:34 AM PST

LONDON, England (BNO NEWS) -- An Italian and a British hostage, who were kidnapped in northern Nigeria last year while working for an Italian construction firm, were killed by their captors on Thursday during a joint raid by British and Nigerian forces.

British citizen Christopher McManus and Italian citizen Franco Lamolinara were kidnapped in May 2011 when gunmen stormed their apartment in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State in northern Nigeria. A German colleague managed to escape while a Nigerian engineer was shot and wounded.

"Since then, we have been working closely with the Nigerian authorities to try to find Chris and Franco, and to secure their release," Cameron said in a statement. "The terrorists holding the two hostages made very clear threats to take their lives, including in a video that was posted on the internet."

But after nearly a year of not knowing where they were being held, authorities received credible information about their location. "A window of opportunity arose to secure their release," Cameron said. "We also had reason to believe that their lives were under imminent and growing danger."

As a result, British and Nigerian forces launched an operation on Thursday to rescue the hostages, who had been working for Italian construction firm B. Stabilini. "It is with great regret that I have to say that both Chris and Franco have lost their lives," Cameron said. "We are still awaiting confirmation of the details, but the early indications are clear that both men were murdered by their captors, before they could be rescued."

In a separate statement, the family of McManus said they were devastated by the news. "During this ordeal we have relied heavily on the support of our family and friends which has never waned and has enabled us to get through the most difficult of times," the family said. "We are also aware of the many people who were working to try and have Chris returned to our family, and his girlfriend. We would like to thank all of them for their efforts."

Cameron said he spoke with McManus' family just before Christmas and also on Thursday to deliver the news. "Our immediate thoughts must be with Chris and Franco's families, and we offer them our sincerest condolences," he said. "Both families have endured a terrible ordeal, and this is a devastating moment for all of them."

Kidnappings for ransom have occurred frequently in several parts of Nigeria. In late January, gunmen kidnapped a German citizen working on a construction site in the city of Kano.

Syria’s deputy oil minister defects from Assad

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 09:35 AM PST

DAMASCUS, Syria (BNO NEWS) -- Syrian Deputy Oil Minister Abdu Hussameddin on Thursday announced his defection from the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, becoming the first high-ranking civilian official to join the uprising which began a year ago.

Hussameddin, 58, appeared in a YouTube video in which he announced his resignation. "In the name of Allah, I, engineer Abdo Hussameldin, deputy oil and mineral resources minister in Syria, announce my defection from the regime and my resignation," he said. "I'm withdrawing from the Baath Party. I declare that I'm joining the revolution of this dignified people."

Although the authenticity of the video could not be immediately confirmed, the person in the video closely resembles a photo of Hussameddin which was released by the Syrian government in 2009. There was also no immediate comment, or denial, from Syrian officials.

The video, which is just over 4 minutes long, appears to show Hussameddin, dressed in a dark suit while apparently reading from prepared remarks in front of him. "I have been part of this government for 33 years, I have acquired many titles, and I do not want to end my career serving the crimes of this regime," the deputy oil minister said.

Hussameddin appeared to directly address Assad, accusing him of pushing the country to the 'edge of the abyss.' "You have inflicted on those you claim are your people a whole year of sorrow and sadness, denying them basic rights to life and humanity and driving Syria to the edge of the abyss," he said.

Thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the uprising - part of the broader Arab Spring movement across North Africa and the Middle East - began almost a year ago. More than 3,800 people have died according to government figures, but opposition activists claim the actual number has already surpassed 8,500.

Indonesia’s Q1 economic growth to reach 6.5 percent

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 08:29 AM PST

JAKARTA, Indonesia (BNO NEWS) -- Despite the global financial crisis, economic growth in Indonesia is estimated to reach 6.5 percent in the first quarter of 2012, according to Bank Indonesia (BI).

Amidst a global economic slowdown and prolonged uncertainty in global financial markets, especially in Europe, Indonesia's domestic economic activity has remained strong, BI said following Thursday's Board of Governors' Meeting.

"Economic growth in the first quarter of 2012 is predicted at 6.5 percent and economic expansion will continue in the second quarter of 2012, although lower than the growth in the first quarter," said Difi A. Johansyah, BI Head of Bureau.

Johansyah noted that the Southeast Asian country's economic growth has been strongly supported by domestic demand, particularly private consumption and investment. Despite the weakening global economy, he added, Indonesia's economic growth in the first and second quarter continues to be in line with the 2012 economic growth forecast of 6.3 to 6.7 percent.

However, export growth is expected to slow down due to the financial crisis and the decrease in non-energy commodity prices.

Also on Thursday, Bank Indonesia decided to keep the BI rate unchanged at 5.75 percent as the Board of Governors considered the current rate is still consistent with inflation pressure.

"Regarding government's policy on energy, Bank Indonesia predicts that its impact on inflation will be temporary (one-time shock), and inflation will return to decrease in line with economic fundamentals," Johansyah said. "Accordingly, Bank Indonesia will undertake various measures to anticipate the short-term impacts through strengthening monetary operation on managing short term excess liquidity with continuously maintaining the interest rate policy to be consistent with macroeconomic outlook."

Through inflation control team at national level (TPI) and at regional level (TPID), Bank Indonesia said it will continue to work with the government in order to bring inflation in 2013 towards its range of 4.5 percent.

British Royal Navy submariner charged with ‘leaking secrets’

Posted: 08 Mar 2012 08:16 AM PST

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- A British Royal Navy submariner was arrested in southwestern England earlier this week and is being accused of leaking classified information, police said on Thursday. He has been charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act 1911.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said Edward Devenney, 29, was arrested at about 8 a.m. local time on Tuesday at a base in Plymouth, a city on the south coast of Devon county. He was taken to a local police station and, after a number of searchers were carried out, charged on late Wednesday.

According to police, on January 28, Devenney communicated information to another person "which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy." Other details were not immediately released, and Devenney was scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Thursday.

A profile on the social networking website Twitter claimed to be Devenney and was later deleted after the arrest and charges were announced. In a tweet on January 27, Devenney apparently wrote: "Bomb Iran? Am not bothered, but I'll probably be in the Submarine that fires the missiles! #RoyalNavy #Submarines"

Officials did not say whether the charges are related to the tweet.

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الجمعة، 9 مارس 2012

Lincoln Tribune

Lincoln Tribune

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